Proud to be a Health Educator

[Margo Harris]

At the risk of revealing my advanced age, I've been a health educator for
more than 25 years, actually closer to 30.  I feel inordinately proud when I
see a positive mention of health education and what we do as health
educators.  Inspite of lots of changes within the profession, most people
still don't know who we are or what we do.  When something shows up in the
"popular press," I think that a spokesperson or story source spoke with
intention about health education and somehow managed to get a mention in the
story.  Good for them!  We need to be advocates for our profession.

I was interested yesterday (8/21/01) to see the Seattle P-I story,
"Snohomish County SIDS increase spurs prevention advice."  The article does
note a mysterious increase in deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in
Snohomish County, which is a serious concern.  I'm sure health educators are
doing there part to work to understand this situation and vocally sharing
prevention advice.

The last paragraph of the article noted:
"Researchers and health educators have attributed the dramatic decrease (in
SIDS deaths in other areas of WA) to public education about putting babies
to sleep on their backs.  Health educators also advise parents to make sure
babies sleep on a firm surface, to remove quilts, fluffy blankets, pillows,
comforters and soft toys from cribs and to avoid overdressing babies for
sleep."  Thanks to the story source who spoke about health education in a
very vocal way.  Margo

Margo Harris
Seattle, WA
206/932-1273
Email: margo at pnwhealth.com
Internet: www.pnwhealth.com
PNW SOPHE Job Bank: www.pnwhealth.com/jobbank.htm
"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle.
I just wish (s)he didn't trust me so much."  Mother Theresa